The Burden of Multiple Sclerosis in Mexico

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a CNS disease causing significant disability, mainly in young and middle-aged individuals. Despite extensive global research, Mexico lacks comprehensive epidemiologic data on MS, complicating effective health care planning and intervention. This study analyzes the epidemiology of MS in Mexico using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study. It focuses on prevalence, incidence, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), years lived with disability (YLDs), and years of life lost (YLLs) from 1990 to 2021. In addition, it examines the relationship between the sociodemographic index (SDI) and MS burden across Mexican states.

Data were sourced from the GBD 2021 and analyzed using standard GBD methodologies. Key metrics included prevalence, DALYs, YLDs, and YLLs, standardized by age. Pearson correlation and linear regression were used to evaluate the association between SDI and MS prevalence. A locally weighted regression (LOESS) model was applied to compare observed and expected DALY rates based on SDI, identifying regional disparities in MS burden.

In 2021, an estimated 18,016 individuals (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 14,993-21,337) lived with MS in Mexico, with an age-standardized prevalence of 13.10 per 100,000 inhabitants (95% UI 10.91-15.50). The incidence rate was 0.65 per 100,000 inhabitants (95% UI 0.55-0.75). Total DALYs for MS in 2021 were 17,947 (95% UI 14,458-20,542), comprising 13.05 age-standardized DALYs per 100,000 inhabitants. YLLs accounted for 9.47 per 100,000 inhabitants (95% UI 8.24-10.85) and YLDs for 3.56 (95% UI 2.45-4.77). The LOESS model revealed significant regional discrepancies, with Northern Mexico exhibiting better-than-expected health outcomes while Central and Southern Mexico displaying higher observed DALYs than expected.

The findings highlight substantial regional disparities in the MS burden across Mexico. Northern Mexico showed better-than-expected health outcomes while Central and Southern Mexico exhibited higher disease burdens than anticipated. These discrepancies suggest that socioeconomic factors and health care accessibility significantly affect MS outcomes. The study's limitations include reliance on hospital records and potential underdiagnosis in less developed regions. Enhanced data collection and comprehensive health care strategies are essential to effectively address the growing MS burden in Mexico.